Sound reproducing means



Sept. 20, 1932. A. J. CAWLEY SOUND REPRODUCING MEANS Original Filed Oct. 5, 1919 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 20, 1932 ALOYSIUS J. GAWLEY, OF PITTSTON, EENNSYLVANIA sounn nnrnon'uome means Original applications filed October 3, 1919, Serial No. 328,299, and August 2, 1926, Serial No. 126,

Divided and this application filed. April 23, 1929. Serial No. 357,529..

This application is a division of my application, Serial Number 328,299, filed October 33, 1919, maturing in U. S. Patent No. 1,594,662, and application Serial Number 126,648, filed August 2, 1926, maturing in U. S. Patent No. 1,710,677, which covered a process of photographically magnifying sound records, preferably those produced on the margin of motion picture films, being a complete record of the movements and sounds of persons and objects. By the above process, the length of the sound record was not altered in the least.

Either from the laterally enlarged sound records, or from an unaltered original sound record groove, a linear ribbon-like patrix was made by passing the record through the interval between rolls while in contact with a suitable soft metal strip, and applying suitable pressure. The patrix could also be produced by electrochemical means. This patrix was cemented to the margin of the origin a1 negative motion picture film, thus forming a complete talking picture negative recrd, from which thousands of duplicates could be made in a very short time.

This talking picture negative was runthrough a ."combined motion picture printer and sound record molder, producing thei eby any number of finished talking picture negatives, i. e., motion picture films bearing preferably on their margins, their own synchronous sound records.

In either imprinting a mechanical groove record on a motion picture film, thus forming its sound record, or in reproducing one of the complete talking picture positives, consisting of a photographic picture record and its corresponding synchronous sound record, as mentioned in the last paragraph, a special type of motion picture sprocket wheel, having a portion of its structure made of sound record backing material, was used. .This constituted a veritable phonographic cylindrical record, which is capable of the most faithful reproduction of sounds.

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is to behad tothe following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illusand wherein similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is an end view of the especially designed sprocket wheel which is intended to accomplish a more perfect recording and reproducing of sound records of the mechanical groove type on motion picture films.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sprocket wheel on the line 22 of Fig. 1, the reproducer not being shown itself in cross section.

Figure 3 is a view of a motion picture film having a sound record groove on its margin corresponding to the sounds emitted by the objects photographed on the film.

Fig. 4 is an end view of a form of my invention.

Fig. 5- is a vertical cross section of the sprocket shown in Fig. 4.

In the recording and reproducing of sound records in practice, it is highly desirable that the film could be held perfectly rigid while moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed. Figure 1 is an end view of a device, which may form a part of the camera or projector, and intended to accomplish this object. It illustrates a motion picture film A, as shown in Figure 1a of my U. S. Patent No. 4 1,594,662 mentioned above uponwhich has been impressed a sound record groove more clearly shown at g in Figure 3 ofthe synchronized sounds of the objects photographed on the film, passing through theprojector and engaged by a stylus 6 which is attachedto the diaphragm 7 of a microphone in order to impress the fluctuations corresponding to the sound record upon the electric current which traverses the microphone. The projector is not shown in its entirety but in accordance with the rules of the office, only the part of the projector with which the stylus cooper-' ates, and which is here shown as the sprocket wheel adjacent the projector film gate. Obviously, a specially designed reproducer sprocket such as that illustrated in the accompanying drawing may be inserted at any part of the projector mechanism desired. This sprocket wheel is mounted on shaft 9 Of the projector. The positive film A is held in firm contact with this sprocket wheel 1, 1a, which is provided with a resilient ring 2. This may be made of hard rubber, which in turn may be coated with a rubber paint on its surface. It may be also made of any phonographic record backing material, or it may be made of any of the following substances: ebonite, wax, shellac, paper, or earthy cpmposition.

Two rings extend upward from the steel body of the sprocket wheel through this ring or cushion, to form a base for the sprocket teeth. When the film is passed around this wheel and its erforations properly engaged with the sproc et teeth, the whole constitutes almost the exact equivalent of a cylindrical phonographic record on is mandrel. As it is well known to those skilled in the art and to the public in general, cylindrical phonograph records have been made and sold extensively to the public having an outside diameter of five inches and an inside diameter of four and one-half inches. Therefore, the wheel illustrated in the drawing may have, for instance, in one embodiment of the invention, an outside diameter of five inches. Similarly, the solid steel body of the wheel shown in the drawing and corresponding to the mandrel of a phonograph, will consist of a solid cylinder of steel four and one-half inches in diameter. This solid, cylindrical mass of metal will have a weight of about seven pounds, which will develop very great momentum when the wheel rotates, and this weight is in addition to that of the cylinder of phonograph record backing material corresponding to a five inch phonograph record, which forms the periphery of the wheel. Moreover, this cylindrical portion alone of the wheel corresponding to a large cylindrical phonograph record, has considerable weight or mass and consequent speed overning properties. The solid steel body of the wheel differs from the ordinary phonograph mandrel in being made solid, and in this respect the wheel is almost, but still not the exact equivalent ofa cylindrical phonograph record on its mandrel. However, the disclosure is not by any means limited to" this embodiment. The drawing also shows another embodiment in which this wheel with the otherwise solid cylindrical mass fashioned in the form of a fly wheel, which still has very considerable mass or weight. Thus the unsatisfactory reproduction from the frail film alone is done away with. The stylus, shown at 6, and the reproducer, which is shown as a microphone 7, are contained in the sound box 5. The electric ower is shown as being supplied by 15., whic may be a direct current dynamo, or storage battery, as it is desired to obtain a loud, powerful reproduction. The wires from binding posts 8 and 8a lead to a loud speaking telephone receiver located near or behind the picture screen. An induction GQil.

may be included in the circuit which contains vacuum tube amplifying circuits, in order to increase the sound intensity. The contact rolls 4 and 4a hold the film in contact with ring 2. This type of sprocket wheel is intended for either recording or reproducing of sounds.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that a cylindrical phonograph record possesses suflicient mass to develop when in motion the requisite momentum to move the record surface with speed uniformity, and it is also very well known to those skilled in the art that this mass is supplied almost entirely by the phonographic backing material. Therefore, the ring 2 alone of the wheel possesses suflicient mass and developable momentum to cause the film to move with speed uniformity. However, the solid steel body is added to furnish additional mass or weight and consequent developable momentum. A wheel made in the proportions illustrated in Figure 1, which is to be taken merely as one embodiment of-the invention, will possess a weight in excess of that of the usual fly wheel used on certain motion picture machines.

.However, the proportions of the large, solid metal wheel illustrated in my U. S. Patent No. 1,710,677 referred to above, or of that shown in the original drawing (of which Figures 4 and 5 are facsimilies) involve a mass much in excess of that shown in the wheel of Figure 1. Consequently, as a patent drawing is not a working drawing, the mere statement alone that the large steel wheel with its film constitutes almost the exact equivalent of a cylindrical phonograph record on its mandrel is suflicient to cover any degree of mass.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A motion picture sprocket wheel, which is provided with a peripheral ring, a motion picture film bearing a sound record in firm contact with said ring, sound translating means coacting with said sound record at the area of contact with said wheel in order that the momentum of said wheel shall move said film with speed uniformity and resulting perfect sound translation.

2. In combination: a large motion picture wheel of considerable mass and a motion pic-.

ture film of inconsiderablemass bearing a sound record, contact rolls holding said motion picture film in firm contact with said wheel, and a sound recording or reproducing means coacting with said sound record carried on said film atthe point where said adherent surface a flexible sound record film in firm contact with said wheel over an arc of its circumference.

4. A wheel possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a flexible sound record film in firm contact with said wheel over an arc of its circumference, constituting means for engaging and disengaging said film with said wheel respectively before and after said film coact-s with a sound recorder or reproducer.

6. A large wheel possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a flexible longitudinal sound record film engaging with said .wheel causing said film to be moved at an absolutely uniform rate of speed and a sound reproducer coacting with said sound record film at a point on the area of engagement with said wheel in order to obtain perfect sound reproduction.

7. A film moving means possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion suflicient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a flexible sound record film in firm contact with said wheel over an arc of its circumference, constituting the equivalent of a cylindrical sound record having a continually changing surface, sound reproducing or recording means coacting with said film.

8. A motion picture sprocket wheel possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity provided with an adherent, resilient ring, a flexible sound record film in firm contact with said wheel over an arc of its circumference, sound reproducing means coacting with said film at a point on said are.

9. A film moving means provided with teeth and possessing enough mass to produce, when inmotion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a sound record film in firm contact with said wheel over an arc of its circumference, sound recording or reproducing means coacting with said film.

10. A film moving means provided with film engaging means and possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity a flex ible sound record film in firm contact with said wheel over an arc of its circumference, and sound recording or sound reproducing means coacting with said film at a portion located on said arc.

11. A large film moving means possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity,-

means for retaining in close engagement a sound record film over an arc of said moving means, and sound recording or sound repro ducing means coacting with said film at a portion located on said arc.

12. A cylinder possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a sound record film in cooperative relation with said cylinder means for retaining in close engagement said sound record film over an arc of said cylinder, sound recording or reproducing means coacting with said film at a portion of said film located on said are to obtain most faithful sound recording or reproducing.

13. A motion picture sprocket wheel provided with a metal body possessing-enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a motion picture film bearing a sound record engaging with said wheel over an arc of its surface to be moved at absolute speed uniformity, sound recording or reproducing means coacting with said film sound record at a portion of said arc.

145, A film moving means provided with a rim "of phonographic record backing material, said rim possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a motion picture film bearing a sound record which engages with said rim over an arc of its Surface, sound recording or reproducing means coacting with said film sound record at a portion of said are.

15. A cylindrical film moving means hav- -ing an adherent surface possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion suflicient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a film bearing a sound record engaging with said moving means over an arc of its circumference, contact rolls holding said film in contact with said moving means, sound recording or reproducing means engaging with said film at a portion of said arc.

16. A cylinder of phonographic record material provided with a metal body possessing enough mass to produce, when in motion sufficient momentum to insure speed uniformity, a film bearing a sound'record engaging with said'cylinder for an arc of its circumference, means for feeding said film being removed to said cylinder before said are and means for removing said film after traversing said are, sound recording or reproducing means coacting with said film at a point on said arc ensuring sound recording and reproducing of great fidelity.

17. The method of translating sound or similar vibrations to or from a film record by the use of sound recording or reproducing means, which comprises flexing the film arcuately longitudinally at the point of trans lation and rapidl and uniforml moving the film in a circum erential directionpast said.

. engaging with an arc ofvthe circumference of said wheel, means for accurately and fixedly holding said film in contact with said wheel at said arc, sound recording or reproducing means coacting with said film at a point on said arc, to record sound upon or to reproduce sound from said film while being moved by said wheel at a uniform rate of speed, resulting in sound recording or reproducing of great fidelity.

20. A large wheel, a film bearing a sound record engaging with an arc of the circumference of said wheel, means for accurately and fixedly holding said film in contact with said Wheel at said arc, sound recording or reproducing means coacting with said film at a point on said are to record sound upon or reproduce sound from said film record, While said film is held fixedly at said arc.

21. In combination, a flexible, longitudinal member bearing a sound record, a rotating element having considerable mass and an adherent surface firmly and fixedly engaging with said member along an arc of its circumference, sound translating means cooperating with said sound record at a point on said arc.

22. In combination, a flexible, longitudinal member bearing a sound record, a rotating element having considerable mass and an adherent surface firmly and fixedly engaging with said member along an arc of itsclrcum ference, sound translating means cooperating with said soundrecord at a point on said are, and means for causing said member to adhere closely to said rotating element along said arc.

23$ In phonograph apparatus in which the record is formed on an elongated carrier of inconsiderable mass, the combination of means for supporting and progressing said elongated member from one point to another point, and past an intermediate point at which the record is made on the member in recording or from which the record is taken from the member in reproducing, including a rotating element of considerable mass over a portion of the periphery of which said member adjacent intermediate point, and means for rotating said cylinder at uniform 'ment intermediate said two speed under control of the mass of said rotating element.

24:. In phonograph apparatus in which the sound record is formed on an elongated carrier of inconsiderable mass, the combination of a rotating element of considerable mass, means for rotating said element at uniform speed under the control of the mass of said rotating element, means for feeding the carrier upon said rotating element at one point and oft therefrom at another point and causing it to adhere closely thereto without slippage between said points, and means, between which and the record acoustically modulated energy is transferred, as the carrier moves past the same, coacting with the carrier when at a position on said rotating elefirst named points.

25. In phonograph apparatus in which the sound record is formed on an elongated ribbon of inconsiderable mass, having feeding perforations therein, -the combination of means for supporting and progressing the record ribbon from one point to another point and past an intermediate point at which the record is made on the ribbon in recording or from which the record is taken from the ribbon in reproducing, including a toothed rotating element of considerable mass over a portion of which the ribbon passes adjacent to said intermediate point, the teeth of said rotating element engaging the perforations of said ribbon, and means for rotating said cylinder at uniform speed under the control of the mass of said rotating element.

26. In phonographic apparatus in which the sound record is formed on an elongated ribbon of inconsiderable mass, having feeding perforations therein, the combination of means for supporting and progressing the record ribbon from one point to another point and past an intermediate point at which the record is made on the ribbon in recording or from which the record is taken from the ribbon in reproducing, including a rotating element of considerable mass for supporting the record at said intermediate point, the mass of said rotating element causing uniform motion to be imparted to said rotating element, toothed means engaging the perforations of the ribbon for feeding the latter over said rotatin element, and means contacting with the ri bon to prevent vibration thereof when said toothed means are engaging or disengaging with the perforations of the said ribbon.

27. In phonograph apparatus in which the sound record is formed on an elongated carrier of inconsiderable mass, the combination of means for supporting and progressing the elongated carrier from one point to another point at which the record is made on the carrier in recording or from which the record is taken from the carrier in reproducing, in-

"cluding a rotating element of considerable mass over a portion of the periphery of which the carrier passes adjacent to said intermediate point, said carrier progressing means operating to advance the carrier past said Intermediate point at uniform speed under control of the mass of said rotating element.

28. In combination, a flexible, longitudinally movable moving picture and sound record film, rotatable mechanism having sufficient mass to maintain by its momentum a uniform rate of speed, said rotatable mechanism being operative with said film to advance the same, and sound translating means cooperative with said sound record film.

29. In combination, a flexible moving picture and sound record film, rotating mechanism having sufficient mass to maintain a uniform rate of speed, a surface of the rotating mass fixedly engaging said film along an arc of its circumference and sound translating means cooperative with said sound record at a point on said surface and means to rotate the mass of material.

30. Means for holding perfectly rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed a longitudinal sound record, consisting of a large wheel provided with a metal body, a flexible sound record in firm engagement with said wheel over an arc of the circumference'of said wheel, and a sound trans: lating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said arc.

31. Means for holding perfectly rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed a longitudinal sound record, consisting of a large wheel provided with a solid metal body, a flexible sound record in firm enga-ge ment with said wheel over an arc of the circumference of said wheel, and a sound translating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said arc.

32. Means for holding perfectly rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed a longitudinal sound record, consisting of a large wheel provided with a metal body,

a flexible sound record in firm engagement with said wheel over an arc of the circumference of said wheel, a sound translating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said are and means for holding said lm in firm engagement throughout said are.

33. Means for holding perfectly'rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate ofspeed a longitudinal sound record, consisting of a large wheel provided with a metal body and an adherent surface, a flexible sound record in firm engagement with said wheel over an arc of the circumference of said wheel and a sound translating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said arc.

34. Means for holding perfectly rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed a longitudinal sound record, consisting of a large wheel provided with a resilient surface and a metal body, a flexible sound I record in firm engagement with said wheel over an arc of the circumference of said wheel and a sound translating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said arc.

35. Means for holding perfectly rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed a talking motion picture film bearing a sound record, consisting of a large wheel provided with a metal body, a talking motion picture film in firm engagement with said wheel over an arc of the circumference of said wheel, said film bearing a sound record, and a sound translating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said arc.

36. Means for holding perfectly rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed a talking motion picturefilm bearing a sound record, consisting of .a large wheel provided with a solid metal body, a talking motion picture film in firm engagement with said wheel over an arc of the circumference of said wheel, and a sound translating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said arc.

37. Means for holding perfectly rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed a talking motion picture film bearing a sound record, consisting of alarge wheel provided with a metal body, a talking motion picture film in firm engagement with said wheel over an arc of the circumference of said wheel, sound translating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said arc, and means for holding said film in firm engagement with said wheel along said are.

38. Means for holding perfectly rigid and moving at an absolutely uniform rate of speed a talking motion picturefilm bearing a sound record, consisting of a large metal Wheel, a talking motion picture film in firm engagement with said wheel over an arc of the circumference of said wheel, and sound translating means in cooperative relation with said record at a point on said arc.

Pittston, Pa., April 20, 1929.

' ALOYSIUS J. CAWLEY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,878.577. September 20, 1932.

ALOYSIUS" J. CAWLEY:

' It is hereby certified that error appearsein the nrintcd specification oi the above numbered patent, requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 73, for

"could" read "should"; and that the 'said' Letters Patent should be read with this 1 correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of February A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore,-

( Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

